PHILADELPHIA – Phillies ace Zack Wheeler might not be a National League All-Star, but he might be a late entry into the NL Cy Young Award race.
The suggestion would have seemed too farfetched in April as Wheeler worked his way back from thoracic outlet surgery in September, and people expressed concern about his lack of fastball velocity in his rehab starts.
Maybe he could round into form in the second half, they hoped.
Wheeler allowed two runs in seven innings Tuesday night against the Dodgers at Citizens Bank Park. He allowed five hits and struck out nine. His only mistake: a first-pitch cutter to Max Muncy, who hit a two-run home run to center field in the fourth inning.
But Wheeler retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced, striking out seven of them.
Wheeler entered Tuesday with 4.7 WAR per Baseball Reference, second among all Major League pitchers behind only teammate Cristopher Sánchez (5.5). Wheeler’s 2.8 WAR per FanGraphs is tied for 14th in baseball, although it’s fourth best since his season debut in Atlanta on April 25.
Wheeler not only has returned from a career-threatening surgery in September, he immediately resumed being one of the best pitchers in baseball.
